Thinking about a weight loss tablet? Foundayo offers a new way to take a GLP-1 medicine, but choosing a treatment is about much more than tablets versus injections.
At Pharmacy Planet, our UK clinicians look at the full picture — including your health, current medicines and weight management goals — before deciding whether a treatment is safe and suitable for you.
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is the brand name for orforglipron, a once-daily GLP-1 tablet developed by Eli Lilly.
The standout difference is simple: it is swallowed rather than injected. It can be taken at any time of day, with or without food, and there are no special water restrictions. For people who are not keen on needles, that may make a daily tablet worth discussing with a clinician.
Foundayo has been authorised in the UK for weight loss and long-term weight management in eligible adults. It has also been authorised to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes when it is not controlled well enough.
It is a prescription-only medicine and is intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. In other words, the tablet can offer support, but it does not have to do the whole job alone — and neither do you.
Who may be eligible for Foundayo?
For weight management, Foundayo is authorised for adults who have:
- a BMI of 30 or above; or
- a BMI between 27 and 30, together with at least one weight-related health condition.
A weight-related condition could include high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, obstructive sleep apnoea or cardiovascular disease.
BMI is only the starting point. A Pharmacy Planet clinician will also consider your medical history, current medicines, previous weight loss treatments and any side effects you have experienced. This helps them recommend an option that fits you as a person, rather than simply matching you to a number.
Good to know: Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a prescription. Treatment is only supplied when a qualified prescriber decides it is safe and appropriate for you.
How does Foundayo work?
Foundayo copies the effects of GLP-1, a hormone your body naturally releases after you eat. GLP-1 is involved in appetite, digestion and blood sugar control.
By acting on the same receptors, Foundayo may help you feel fuller for longer, reduce hunger and make cravings easier to manage. For some people, this can make smaller portions and everyday food choices feel a little less demanding.
It is not a fat-burning tablet or a quick fix. Its role is to make sustainable changes more manageable while you work towards your longer-term health goals.
How effective was Foundayo in clinical studies?
Foundayo was studied in ATTAIN-1, a Phase 3 trial involving 3,127 adults living with obesity, or overweight alongside a weight-related health condition. The participants did not have type 2 diabetes.
After 72 weeks, people taking the highest studied dose lost an average of 12.4% of their starting body weight, compared with 0.9% among people taking a placebo. Everyone in the study also received support with diet and physical activity.
These figures are study averages, not a personal forecast. Some people lost more, others lost less, and results can be affected by the dose reached, how long treatment continues, side effects and lifestyle changes.
How is Foundayo taken?
Foundayo is taken once a day. The tablet can be taken at any time, with or without food, and without special rules about how much water you drink.
Treatment begins at 0.8 mg and the dose is increased gradually through 2.5 mg, 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg. You will spend at least one month at each dose level.
That steady build-up gives your body time to adjust. Your clinician will guide any dose changes and check how you are getting on, so there is no need to rush to the highest dose. The right dose is the one that remains suitable for you.
Your treatment, with support. If Foundayo becomes available through Pharmacy Planet, our clinical team will review your request and provide clear instructions on how to take it. If anything feels unclear or side effects are troubling you, our team is there to help.
Foundayo, Wegovy tablets, Wegovy injections and Mounjaro compared
These treatments may appear in the same weight management conversation, but there are some useful differences in how they are taken.
| Treatment | Active ingredient | How it is taken |
|---|---|---|
| Foundayo | Orforglipron | Once-daily tablet, with or without food |
| Wegovy tablets | Semaglutide | Once-daily tablet, taken on an empty stomach |
| Wegovy injections | Semaglutide | Once-weekly injection |
| Mounjaro | Tirzepatide | Once-weekly injection |
Foundayo and Wegovy tablets are both taken once a day, but the routines are different. Foundayo can be taken with or without food, while Wegovy tablets need to be taken after an overnight fast, followed by a 30-minute wait before food, drink or other tablets. Wegovy injections and Mounjaro are taken once a week.
That does not make one option better for everyone. Some people prefer a daily tablet, while others would rather think about treatment once a week.
A Pharmacy Planet clinician can look at your health, preferences and previous treatment experience to decide which available option may suit you. Results from separate clinical trials should not be treated as a like-for-like comparison because the people, doses and methods used can differ.
What are the common and serious side effects?
Like all medicines, Foundayo can cause side effects. Stomach and digestive symptoms are the most common and may be more noticeable when you first start or move up to a higher dose.
Common side effects include:
- feeling sick
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- being sick
- indigestion
- stomach pain
These effects may settle as your body gets used to treatment. If they are persistent, difficult to manage or make it hard to eat and drink, contact your clinician rather than trying to push through them alone.
When should I get medical help?
Some side effects can be serious. Get urgent medical help if you develop severe and persistent stomach pain, particularly if it spreads to your back, or signs of a serious allergic reaction such as swelling of your face or throat or difficulty breathing.
Always read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine, as it contains the full list of side effects and advice on what to do. You can also report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Who should not take Foundayo?
Foundayo will not be suitable for everyone. You should not take it if you are allergic to orforglipron or any of the other ingredients in the tablet. It should not be used during pregnancy, and it should not be combined with another GLP-1 medicine unless a clinician has specifically told you to do so.
Your clinician will need to know if you have previously experienced pancreatitis, serious digestive problems, kidney or liver problems, gallbladder problems or diabetic eye disease. This does not always mean you cannot use treatment, but it helps your clinician make a safe decision.
Be open about your health and any previous reactions to weight loss medicines during your Pharmacy Planet consultation. The questions are there to protect you, not to judge you.
Interactions, contraception and pregnancy
Foundayo may affect how some tablets are absorbed because it changes the speed at which food and medicine move through the stomach. It can also increase the risk of low blood sugar when taken with insulin or certain diabetes medicines.
Tell your clinician about everything you use, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter treatments, vitamins, herbal remedies and other weight management products.
Foundayo and contraception
Foundayo may make the oral contraceptive pill less effective. Current prescribing information advises people taking the pill to use a non-oral method of contraception or add a barrier method for 30 days after starting treatment and for 30 days after each dose increase.
Do not stop or change your contraception without speaking to a healthcare professional. Your clinician can help you find an option that feels practical and gives you the protection you need.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Foundayo should not be used during pregnancy. Tell your clinician if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, are breastfeeding or are having fertility treatment. If you become pregnant while taking Foundayo, stop taking it and contact your prescriber promptly for advice.
UK availability and NHS access
The MHRA authorised Foundayo in the UK on 10 August 2026 for weight management in eligible adults and for type 2 diabetes. However, authorisation does not mean it will appear on pharmacy shelves straight away.
Foundayo is not currently available through the NHS. NICE will need to assess it before deciding whether it should be recommended for routine NHS use. Private launch timing, pricing and Pharmacy Planet stock will be confirmed separately.
When Foundayo becomes available through Pharmacy Planet, it will only be supplied after a consultation and approval from a qualified UK prescriber. Our aim is to make the process clear and supportive, from checking whether treatment is right for you to helping you understand what comes next.
Please stay safe: Only obtain GLP-1 medicines from a registered pharmacy with a valid prescription. Products sold through unregulated websites or social media may be fake, unsafe or unsuitable for you.
